Kanach Zham Church

St.Hovhannes Mkrtich church is located in Shushi which was an important cultural center of the
Medieval Armenia. The church was founded in 1818 in place of a former wooden Gharabakhtsots
church. According to an inscription it was built in 1874. A carving preserved above its entrance
says, «Babayan Stepanos Hovhannes. In memory of the deceased brother Mkrtich, 1874.»
St.Hovhannes Mkrtich church is well preserved. It overlooks the city from above and, thanks to its
tall dome and the chapel, it can be seen from everywhere in the town.
The church was constructed in a novel architectural style. It has a cross­shaped floorplan, and the
eastern facade is adjacent to the western part of the chapel. The interior is also unique among
architecturally similar constructions.
The church is better known as Kanach Zham or Green Chapel. People named the church
like that because its dome was painted green. Today it also looks greenish from afar outlined on
the white stone background of the church.
After Soviet government was established the church stopped to function. Before Shushi
was liberated, Azerbaijanis used Kanach Zham as a health resort.
Locals say that during Artsakh Liberation War Azerbaijanis didn't dare to attack Kanach
Zham scared of its mighty powers. The church was fully renovated and started to function again in
1995.

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